All mine?

Puk's birthday dinner

Rotorua

A long ride. 87km with some big climbs. Turns out Maria and Yancy hitchhiked part of the way. And yesterday! I was so disappointed. Not just for me, but for the children. Who read the blog and look up to them.

But seriously I couldn't have wished for three nicer people to be travelling with. They are all really marvellous and always in good spirits.

Cambridge couchsurf

With Liz, our host in Cambridge. Everywhere we go becomes an Internet cafe. Planning the next few days.

Cambridge show

Played at a BBQ.

Mark

Our host in Raglan, in his studio.

Burgers

Maria made burgers for breakfast.

Raglan beach

Cooling down after a long ride.

Puk

He's a real trouper. Broke his leg in May last year and has a lot of metal in it which heats up in the sun and cooks his leg. Gives us a laugh though!

Erin and David

Our hosts in Glenn Massey. They had a wonderful place in a hippie village and really looked after us, even driving up to Raglin for the next night's show. Lovely people

Bruce brings a new bike

Chilling in the hills

Raglin

All is well on the road. Wifi is scarce in New Zealand. Just about to head off for another long day on the bike.

7 hours in the saddle

We've arrived in Glen Massey up the mountain from Hamilton. It was a
long day in the saddle today. Left at 8.30am and arrived at 5pm. 75km.
15km average. Lots of incidents. Maria got lost at the start, a wrong
turning, and it took half an hour to find her. Puk got lost at the
end, rode past the house. Two punctures inbetween. And Puk's bikes has
gear trouble. A slog! But arriving at the house for tonight has made
it all worthwhile. It's a beautiful place up in the mountains! I'd
post photos but there's no wifi. Looks like I'll play a show in the
garden. Just like you imagine the NZ countryside to be.

The team

CS meetup Auckland

I played at the weekly Couchsurfing meetup. Packed. Must have been 60 people. All super-friendly. I played 'Liberate Lybia' and had a big singalong. I must write a CSing song for such occasions.

In the bike shop

Final preparations for the off tomorrow. They've been so many heavy showers, I decided to get mudguards fitted. I left mine in England because I thought it would be dry here.

Dumpster diving

Picked up a ton of day old bread with Claire for an event tomorrow

Protest

It was very peaceful but unfortunately turned nasty at the end when the police tried to arrest the two guys on the roof, causing an unnecessary panic.

Earthquake

Terrible to hear about the earthquake in Christchurch. We didn't feel anything here in Auckland. I will be there in three weeks. It looks serious.

Introducing...

Yancy and Maria. My new companions for the road. Today we're surfing for bikes for them. Puk, the third member, arrives tomorrow.

Day two in New Zealand

Or is it Day 3? It's still a blur. It's a great place, and I haven't even seen much of it. Some things I didn't know: a lot of people go around barefooted, a funny sight to see in the supermarket. Also the timezone is ahead of the rest of the world. We're almost finished Sunday before Europe starts it. So everything's that little bit more advanced, as my friend Nick would say. I emt up with the first of the riders who's going to be accompanying me. Maria from Italy. She's nervous about getting a bike and the cycling. The other two arrive in the coming days. I'm really looking forward to the company. Apart from that it's a lot of computer time writing to hosts along the way now.

Heading down to the beach

With my friends Nick and Pilar who I stayed with only a few months ago in Seville.

Killing the children with food

Auckland

Arrived safe and sound. The bike survived the trip unscathed. Cycled from the airport to my friend's house in Auckland through miles of suburbia. It's wonderful to suddenly be in the summer. Quite surreal.

Kuala Lumpa

I'm in Asia! My first time. Right on the equator. Kuala Lumpa. An airport though, which are the same the world over. It's 50km out of town so I didn't venture in, even though I have 12 hours between planes. I was just too tired so I slept in the terminal hotel. It's 6pm local time and I'm just going for breakfast. I did poke my head outside and it was 32 degrees and there was a thunderstorm coming down. I'll just stay in the Starbucks.

Songs for a cause

Do you think a song could help your cause? If you know a charity or worthwhile organisation or an issue that needs awareness raised about it, send me a brief explaining what you'd like the song to say and I will see what I can do.

Two bags

Thankfully it's summer over there so I can get away with less, but it's still two bags which pains me.

Preparing for New Zealand

Extra underwear not pictured (I was wearing them to take the photo).

Dusty Stray and the Woodwards

I see my friends Jonathan, Jesje and Peter play in Amsterdam last night. Wonderful writers and performers, I recommend you check them out.

Shop keeper

Sitting in my shop in Amsterdam for the last two weeks. There's still some great women's clothes from Paris if that's your style. Or just drop by to say hello. Vijzelstraat 67.